1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 931 1-3 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to honor 1-4 Alberto Garcia, a recipient of the 1999 Children's Defense Fund's 1-5 "Beat the Odds" award; and 1-6 WHEREAS, For many children in our Texas communities, 1-7 achievements like graduating from high school, accumulating a good 1-8 grade point average, and attending college are more than hard won; 1-9 overwhelming obstacles such as poverty, abandonment, familial 1-10 discord, and illness impede these children's path to success; to 1-11 triumph over such adversity requires nothing short of herculean 1-12 effort; and 1-13 WHEREAS, Tenacity, strength, determination, self-confidence, 1-14 and bravery are but a few of the qualities these children must 1-15 possess to beat the odds stacked against them; the Children's 1-16 Defense Fund seeks to honor and support young people who have 1-17 overcome great adversity in their quest for achievement with its 1-18 "Beat the Odds" award, a $2,500 college scholarship, and a $1,000 1-19 scholarship from Foley's; and 1-20 WHEREAS, Alberto Garcia was diagnosed at age two with 1-21 cerebral palsy; even as a child, he was motivated to overcome 2-1 the disabilities that resulted from his disorder; in his 18 years, 2-2 he has had countless surgeries to improve his ability to walk, 2-3 many of which have involved painful and lengthy recovery periods; 2-4 undaunted, Alberto has endured and cast aside bed rest, wheelchairs, 2-5 and walkers in his determination to walk without aid; and 2-6 WHEREAS, When his operations entailed missing school, Alberto 2-7 remained eager to return to classes, so much so that he managed to 2-8 miss only the first week of his senior year, when doctors predicted 2-9 he would convalesce until October; he has maintained a 4.2 grade 2-10 point average and ranks fifth in his class; secretary of his 2-11 mathematics club, parliamentarian of the National Honor Society, 2-12 and a member of the science club, this young man is determined to 2-13 prevail; and 2-14 WHEREAS, A selfless giver, Alberto tutors students in 2-15 mathematics and on weekends works to cheer up young patients at the 2-16 Shriners Hospital for Children; and 2-17 WHEREAS, Alberto's family has given him tremendous spiritual 2-18 support; indeed, other members of the Garcia family have overcome 2-19 great hardships; Alberto's mother, a single parent, works hard to 2-20 support her family on an annual income of $12,000; and 2-21 WHEREAS, Alberto's goal is to become an electrical engineer; 2-22 he will attend the University of Houston this fall; no doubt 2-23 Alberto, so full of courage and conviction, will achieve his dream; 2-24 and 3-1 WHEREAS, Alberto Garcia has truly beaten the odds against 3-2 him; his capacity to keep striving, no matter the trials, is an 3-3 inspiration to us all; this fine young man greatly deserves all the 3-4 success in the world; now, therefore, be it 3-5 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 3-6 76th Legislature, hereby extend sincere congratulations to 3-7 Alberto Garcia on receiving the Children's Defense Fund's "Beat the 3-8 Odds" award; and, be it further 3-9 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for 3-10 this esteemed young man as an expression of high regard from the 3-11 Texas Senate. 3-12 Ellis 3-13 ______________________________________ 3-14 President of the Senate 3-15 I hereby certify that the above 3-16 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 3-17 on May 11, 1999. 3-18 ______________________________________ 3-19 Secretary of the Senate 3-20 ______________________________________ 3-21 Member, Texas Senate